Lakers’ Steve Nash remains hopeful of returning

The Lakers’ Steve Nash, left, passing against Dallas’ Jose Calderon during a recent game, has missed all but six games this season because of persistent nerve issues in his back.
Ronald Martinez — Getty Images

Long after he kept hoisting pull-up jumpers without any certainty when he’ll return to the court, Lakers guard Steve Nash showed how that hasn’t affected the pleasant personality that’s made him considered one of the NBA’s best teammates.

The women’s basketball team representing Nash’s alma mater, Santa Clara, snapped photos of Nash and Kobe Bryant taking part Friday in light shooting drills following the Lakers’ morning shootaround. Nash then engaged them with plenty of small talk, laughs and team pictures and an innocent, albeit awkward, question came up.

“They were like ‘How’s the season going?,’ Nash said with a smirk. “There was a moment of pause.”

If only they knew.

Nash has sat out in all but six games because of persisting nerve issues in his back. Nash will make his fourth trip this season to Vancouver with his personal trainer Rick Celebrini during the Lakers’ seven-game, 11-day trip to Phoenix (Jan. 15), Boston (Jan. 17), Toronto (Jan. 19), Chicago (Jan. 20), Miami (Jan. 23), Orlando (Jan. 24) and New York (Jan. 26).

Should he navigate through that rehab successfully, Nash will practice the following week and return in early February with nearly 35 games left in the regular season.

“If it doesn’t work this time, I really put the season in jeopardy. I’m really back to square one with three months left in the season,” said Nash, who turns 40 in February. “That leaves me with very little opportunity. I know I can get healthy. It’s a matter of if I can sustain it.”

Nash has reported improvement in his postural stability and movement patterns that limit pressure on his spine each time he’s gone to Vancouver during the Lakers’ recent trips. But Nash also revealed he felt nerve pain in his left leg following some recent shooting drills after working out for three consecutive days. The nerve issues all stem from fracturing his left leg last season and missing 24 games after having surgery.

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“I really love the game and I know that I’ve got a really short window of basketball in my life,” said Nash, who has averaged 6.7 points on 26.1 percent shooting and 4.8 assists in 22.5 minutes this season. “I just want to get out there.”

Nash’s basketball life technically extends into the 2014-15 campaign. But the Lakers could waive Nash this offseason via the so-called “stretch provision,” which would allow them to pay the nearly $10 million owed to Nash through three years. That would clear up some of the Lakers’ payroll and ensure only $3 million is counted against their salary cap per year.

“I obviously know nothing is guaranteed,” Nash said. “The future is in flux and anything is possible. Frankly with my health, I haven’t proven to anyone and to myself that my body still has what I think it has in the tank. I walk around feeling optimistic I can do it. But I tell my mind daily that I have to prove it.”

The Lakers have hurt at point guard beyong Nash’s absence. Bryant performed some stationary shooting Friday but remains two weeks away before returning from a fractured foot. Steve Blake has performed shooting and conditioning drills solely using his left hand, but the Lakers will re-evaluate his hyperextended right elbow on Feb. 1. Jordan Farmar won’t return for at least another four weeks from a torn left hamstring. Xavier Henry will be evaluated on his bone bruise in his right knee within the next week.

Meanwhile, the Lakers entered Friday’s game against Utah ranked 13th in the Western Conference.

“One thing that I will say about this group that I’m extremely proud of is this type of situation in the NBA nine out of 10 times is one of disaster,” Nash said. “Guys start going their own way and they stop listening to the coach and you got a real combustible atmosphere. It’s amazing and a tribute to the players and coaches and staff that this is still a positive environment. Guys still like coming to work every day. They’re working hard together.”

Nash ahs done that too, but it hasn’t materialized yet. That’s why he described these past two seasons with the Lakers as a “nightmare.” But he still showed appreciation for everything else, ranging from his teammates and coaching staff to the Lakers’ front office and fans.

“Everyone has treated me incredibly well and better than I could ever ask for,” Nash said. “It’s been a phenomenal experience to be part of another. I hesitate to throw it all out. It’s a special place and fantastic experience in a lot of ways. But it’s really aged me a lot of 20 years.”